Record Details

An empirical approach to predicting water quality in small streams of southern British Columbia using biogeoclimatic ecosystem classifications

Journal of Ecosystems and Management

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title An empirical approach to predicting water quality in small streams of southern British Columbia using biogeoclimatic ecosystem classifications
 
Creator Lulder, Chad D.
Scherer, Rob
Curtis, P. Jefferson
 
Subject baseflow, biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification, British Columbia, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon, ph, turbidity, water quality
 
Description Water quality data from a synoptic survey of low-order streams (n = 581) were investigated as a function of the biogeoclimatic zone and moisture subzone groupings of the biogeoclimatic ecological classification (BEC) system. The potential utility of the BEC system as a watershed characterization tool was evaluated. The preliminary results were limited to streams sampled during June 1998 and 1999 over the large spatial scale of southern British Columbia. Significant differences (ρ < 0.05) were observed among biogeoclimatic zones and moisture subzones for specific conductance, turbidity, ph, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. Our approach explained between 8 and 37% of the variation in water quality data, which could significantly reduce error in assessing water quality or investigating the effects of watershed activities among watersheds. The data provide a snapshot of water quality and identify areas that are likely to exceed water quality guidelines (ρ > 0.50). High proportions of low-order streams within the southern interior of British Columbia are likely to exceed water quality guidelines for turbidity and DOC content during a comparable sample period. Similarly, streams located in coastal areas of southern British Columbia exhibited ph values that were below the approved guideline of 6.5. Overall, the BEC system accounted for a significant amount of variation in water quality, suggesting that further development of this approach is warranted. The addition of other variables such as a history of land-use activities should be included, and data should be extended temporally to account for different flow regimes.
 
Publisher Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing Press
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2006-11-22
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/355
 
Source Journal of Ecosystems and Management; Vol 7, No 3 (2006)
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/355/270